Commodity-display device



Och 13, 1925' C. P. JOHNSON commoDITY DISPLAY DEVICE Filld Jan. 20. .1921

Patented ct. 13, 1925.

CLARENCE I. JOHNSON, OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMMODITY-DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application led January 20, 1921. Serial No. 438,654.

To all Awhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARENCE l?. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lexington, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Commodity-Display Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention aims to provide a. novel display device for exhibiting confectionery and other commodities for more advantageous sale and distribution.

l The invention consists in various features and combinations of features to be hereinafter disclosed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l represents in front view a device illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 a vertical cross section on the line 2--2 looking to the left; and

Fig. 3 a cross section on the line 3 3 looking downward.

Referring to the drawings of the particular illustrated device there shown, the confections or other commodity to be displayed are placed for convenience in a tray a which may be the usual tray employed in packing and shipping the commodity. The display device is provided with a commodity carrier Zi, suitably supported for convenient display as by the easel support 0 which is retained in display supporting position by desired means, for example, the flexible member d. In the form shown the members 0 and l are flexible, for example, they are made from pasteboard or other suitable material to permit them to be collapsed by sliding one upon the other in approximately suppressed relationship for economy of space in shipping.

The container b is provided preferably, but not necessarily at top and bottom with broad flanges e for convenience in production and in the display of title and other cards or devices.

In the device shown there is secured to the flanges c a frame-like face member f of suitable dimensions and of attractive appearance and presenting within its contour a display opening of a size approximating that of the tray a. As here shown, the display opening in the face member f is slightly smaller than the inside dimensions 0f the commodity carrier the latter being open preferably at one end only, to permit a tray to be inserted edgewise into the carrier from behind the face plate and if the tray so inserted be of a depth no greater than the depth of the commodity carrier .79, it may be of the full dimension of the said carrier Vand so fall behind the overlying edge of the face member f surrounding'the display opening so that the edge of the face member then furnishes a retaining portion to hold the tray in a position within and against displace-` ment from the carrier b. When so used, the tray inserted edgewise through the open end of the carrier is pushed into position directly beneath the display` opening and the contents of the tray will be attractively` displayed through the display opening.

If, however, it is desired to employ a tray deeper than the carrier b and having bounding walls of the depth, for example, such as illustrated in the drawings 2 and 3, where the said walls protrude through the display opening and substantially beyond the face of the member f, it may be desirable to conceal such protruding edge or give finish thereto and to that end my invention contemplates the provision of a removable frame member g having its inner edge rolled over or otherwise adapted to finish or oonceal the edge of the tray and by its cross-sectional shape meeting the face of the memberl f, giving an attractive and pleasing finish to the device as a whole including the tray carried thereby. Thus the deeper tray with or without the finishing frame member g or the lower tray with its edge more or less concealed below the display opening bounding edges of the member f may be used at the will or desire of the user.

The ange e or the overlying portion of the member 7"' may be used as display surfaces for displaying the name of the commodity displayed within the device, the name of the manufacturer or advertising matter relating to the commodity displayed.

As an additional means of display and one which may be more readily changed from time to time, I have provided the detachable display card or member it, shown as applied at the upper part of the device as a whole, but which may be otherwise applied at the optic-n of the user, the same having detachable fastening means such, for example, as the tongue 7i extended through `an opening or openings 'h2 provided therefor in the flanges e and f and with means such as the pin h3 for securing it removably against displacement.

In the present. instance I have shown the commodity carrier b as Wholly ope-n at one end and largely closed `at the opposite end, although the closed end iswhere shown as provided with open corners Z/ to facilitate access to the corner portions of ythe tray mounted Within the carrier in the removal or positioning of the same.

In the present instance the device is provided at three? sides only with the broad flanges e and fso as to permit several devices to be placed in a show case or upon a shelf end to end, in which event the upright fange portions on one tray hy ahutt' ig against the flangeless end of an 'adjoin g tray serve in the assembled series as uniform portions bounding and between the various display openings of the assembled devices. Of course if uniformity of upright separating fianges'or portions Were not desired, thev devices could he provided upon all four of their sides with the broad vflanges or display surfaces. The use of display surfaces upon any of the sides less than all is, of course, optional with the manufacturer or user.

Having described one embodiment-of my invention vand Without f limi-ting myself to the particular embodiment illustrated, what I cla-im nand desire-to secure hy Letters Patent is:

I.. Ina lcoirnnodity display device, a commodity carrier having an open end through which commodities-or a. commodity tray may beV inserted edgewise therein, said commodity carrier having side and end bounding walls,` and lon'eormore'of said Walls loeing cutaway to form an opening at one or more cornerstlxereof to` facilitate yaccess to the contents.

2. Ina commod'ity'fdis'play device, a commodity tray the commodity tray carrier Z) having a commodity tray receiving porti-on provided `Withthe bott-om Wa'lland the three marginal Walls7 the Lflanges e carried hy'said marginal VWalls the face member f carried by said Lflanges Ve and ,having a display opening of less dimensions than the commodity tray receiving portion of the commodityk tray carrier, andthe openings ZJ formed in-one or morefofsaid` marginal Walls.

Inte'stimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CLARENCE P. JOHNSON. 

